Rosa brings light to a community in Peru
On the outskirts of Juliaca, Peru, 42 per cent of the population still lives in poverty, untouched by the rapid economic growth that has transformed other parts of the nation in the past decade.
For the past four years, Rosa Galindo has been a driving force behind a Community Home sponsored by SOS Children’s Villages. In a community marked by high levels of child labour, malnutrition and juvenile deaths during the region’s brutal winter months, Rosa has pushed tirelessly for improvements to education and nutrition for the children of Sillustani.
The Sillustani Community Home – which comprises a large classroom, a separate dining area and a kitchen – aims to offer a pre-school education for children under five and to ensure that they also receive a nutritious meal every day.
Rosa is a mother of seven and first came to the home seeking help for her own family.
“My husband used to be very abusive,” she says. “He was a severe alcoholic and would often physically abuse both myself and my children. He was unable to work and unable to support us.”
Rosa was forced to take over the responsibility of feeding and supporting her family. She began by knitting, sewing, and doing crochet work. However, it was very hard to make ends meet with so many mouths to feed.
“I sought help from the SOS Children’s Village in Juliaca, where the Village Director suggested I get in touch with the Sillustani Community Home,” Rosa explains.
Rosa enrolled her youngest son and started working as a chef to cook for the Home’s 26 children. After taking reading and writing course with the help of SOS, Rosa soon took on the position of treasurer within the community home.
“I am eternally grateful to SOS for helping me find the confidence to read and write. They helped me find my voice and now I have power over the decisions that affect my family,” she says.
Percy Yto Mamani, a facilitator at SOS Children’s Village Juliaca, says that with the support of both Juliaca SOS Village and the Family Strengthening Program, the home has considerably advanced over the past four years.
SOS Children’s Village Juliaca supports the Community Home economically and through a number of initiatives; including ensuring that each child is documented; ensuring that children in the home and in the community are well fed and nourished; providing medical attention for local children and teaching families how to care for the health of each child; promoting access for local families to basic services such as electricity and clean water; and reducing the staggering levels of domestic abuse in the community.
Rosa continues to support the community home as a mother and caregiver. She is there every day and encourages community members to attend all meetings and workshops. Furthermore also helps train new mothers at the home while actively seeking out local families in the community in need of support.
Canadian's wishing to support SOS Children's Villages are encouraged to sponsor a child, sponsor a village or to make a direct donation. Your support ensures that SOS Children's Villages can continue to provide a safe and loving home to orphan and abandoned children worldwide.